Which when Beëlzebub perceived, than whom,
Satan except, none higher sat, with grave
Aspèct he rose, and in his rising seemed
A pillar of state: deep on his front engraven
Deliberation sat, and public care;

And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood,
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear

300

305

The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look

Drew audience and attention still as night

Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake :

"Thrones and Imperial Powers, offspring of Heaven, Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now

311

Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called

Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote

Inclines, here to continue, and build up here

A growing empire; doubtless, while we dream,

315

And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed

This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat

Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt

From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league

Banded against his throne, but to remain

320

In strictest bondage, though thus far removed
Under the inevitable curb, reserved

His captive multitude. For he, be sure,

300-305. A very fine picture.

306. Atlas was a giant of Greek mythology, fabled to bear up the world.

308. Audience, hearing.

312. Style. The formal designation of a monarch is his "style." 314-329. Beëlzebub has as little difficulty in showing the folly of Belial and Mammon as they had in exposing the temerity of Moloch. The first part of his speech shows the emptiness of both plans : impossible to recover Heaven, impossible to make a Heaven out of Hell. So we come to the suggestion in 1. 345. His only thought is for revenge; here he shows, perhaps, a higher mind than the others. They had striven to better their position: he takes no thought of such matters, his only desire is the mental triumph of vengeance.

In highth or depth, still first and last will reign
Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part
By our revolt, but over Hell extend

His empire, and with iron sceptre rule
Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven.
What sit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determined us, and foiled with loss

325

330

Irreparable; terms of peace yet none

Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given

To us enslaved, but custody severe,

Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need,

With dangerous expedition to invade

Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege,

Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find

Some easier enterprise? There is a place

345

(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven

Err not), another world, the happy seat

Of some new race called Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though less

In power and excellence, but favoured more

350

Of him who rules above; so was his will

Pronounced among the gods, and by an oath,

That shook Heaven's whole circumference, confirmed.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould

355

Or substance, how endued, and what their power,
And where their weakness, how attempted best,
By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut,

349. The idea is Satan's, see i. 651 and ii. 379, 380.

And Heaven's high arbitrator sit secure

In his own strength, this place may lie exposed,
The utmost border of his kingdom, left

360

To their defence who hold it.

Here perhaps

Some advantageous act may be achieved
By sudden onset: either with Hell-fire
To waste his whole creation, or possess

365

All as our own, and drive, as we were driven,
The puny inhabitants; or, if not drive,

Faded so soon. Advise, if this be worth

Attempting, or to sit in darkness here
Hatching vain empires." Thus Beëlzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devised

By Satan, and in part proposed; for whence,
But from the author of all ill, could spring
So deep a malice, to confound the race
Of mankind in one root, and earth with Hell
To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creator? But their spite still serves
His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes with full assent
They vote; whereat his speech he thus renews:

375. Original, he who was their origin.

66

377. Or to sit a considerable ellipsis, or if it be better to." 380. See i. 651.

380

385

385. Milton here speaks, theologically, in his own person. Not only does the damnation of many tend to the greater glory of God, but the Fall of man gives opportunity for the Redemption.

"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, Synod of gods! and, like to what ye are,

Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep
Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate,

Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view

390

Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms
And opportune excursion, we may chance.
Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone
Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light,
Secure, and at the brightening orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air,

396

400

To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,

Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we send
In search of this new world? whom shall we find

Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet
The dark, unbottomed, infinite Abyss,
And through the palpable obscure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight,
Upborne with indefatigable wings,

Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

405

The happy isle? What strength, what art, can then 410
Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe

Through the strict senteries and stations thick
Of angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumspection, and we now no less
Choice in our suffrage; for, on whom we send,
The weight of all, and our last hope, relies."
This said, he sat; and expectation held

391. Synod, assembly.

405. Abyss, one of the several names for Chaos. 406. Palpable obscure, darkness that may be felt.

407. Uncouth, in the earlier meaning of unknown.

415

409. The vast abrupt, not so happy as some of Milton's bold strokes.

414. And we now need no less.

415. Suffrage, vote.

417, 418. Expectation held his look suspense. Suspense is used by Milton oftener than suspended. vi. 580, vii. 99.

His look suspense, awaiting who appeared
To second or oppose, or undertake

The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,

420

Pondering the danger with deep thoughts, and each
In other's countenance read his own dismay,
Astonished; none, among the choice and prime

Of those Heaven-warring champions, could be found.
So hardy as to proffer or accept

425

Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last

Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised

Above his fellows, with monarchal pride,

Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake : "O progeny of Heaven, empyreal Thrones!

430

With reason hath deep silence and demur

Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;
Our prison strong, this huge convex of fire,
Outrageous to devour, immures us round
Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant,
Barred over us, prohibit all egress.

These passed, if any pass, the void profound
Of unessential Night receives him next,
Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being
Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf.
If thence he 'scape into whatever world
Or unknown region, what remains him less
Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?
But I should ill become this throne, O Peers,

435

440

445

434. Convex, cf. concave, ii. 635. I am not quite sure whether Satan spoke of the soil of Hell, which would have been perhaps convex, or the covering, so to call it, which would not have been convex, except from the outside. Immures in the next line would favour the latter idea.

435. Outrageous. Used as though a participle, raging out, with which this word really has no connection.

439. Unessential, without substance. 443. Remains, awaits.